About

$8,710

pledged of $8,000 goal

87

backers

Kulea Games has set out to create a new game called Moth Matching. We aim to set a new standard for the matching game genre that entertains players, provides the opportunity to strengthen memory skills and preserves biodiversity in Madagascar's tropical forests. Here are highlights on how we will accomplish this goal with your support:

Offer a wealth of gorgeous stylized card images based on photographs from Madagascar

Create handcrafted, original illustrations and special visual effects

Immerse players with original music and sounds

Keep it engaging with variety and challenge (e.g., timed levels, number of attempts)

Share game proceeds with our nonprofit partner CPALI to make a difference in real life!

True, there are plenty of other memory matching game apps and some can be rather fun. We want to raise the bar higher and make a matching game for everyone. To that end, there will be no skimping on quality. Amazing graphics! Fascinating critters! Special effects! Diverse gameplay!

Moths might be the stars of Moth Matching and they're really striking, but the game will have plenty more images featuring the marvels found in this exotic corner of the world. We can't wait to share these with everyone!

Featuring some of the most gorgeous landscapes and unusual creatures on the planet

Sometimes silence is soothing and sometimes music is motivating. We're at least giving players the option to have sounds and music to accompany them on their matching mission. This Malagasy inspired soundtrack is sure to keep players going. Check out a winning track:

Kulea Games didn't set out to create a matching game and then decide to focus on moths. We wanted to partner with CPALI (Conservation through Poverty Alleviation, International) to support their efforts to develop wild silk as a conservation strategy in Madagascar. Here's how it works:

Villagers plant trees for native silk worms on degraded lands

Cocoons are processed into usable wild silk once the moths emerge

Wild silk is then sold in bulk or transformed into finished products

Villagers get 100% of the profits from producing silk!

Farmer with cocoon (left); Villagers processing wild silk (right)

Having economic options for families that live in or near one of the most threatened tropical forests in the world is essential to protecting the ecosystem. We were so inspired to help raise awareness and expand the program that we decided to create a game that everyone can download. That way they see the treasure trove of biodiversity worth protecting and the process of producing wild silk.

And if they like what they see and want to keep playing beyond level 20, players can pay to unlock the rest of the game. CPALI receives a share of this revenue to support their mission of training more villagers and paying for more native trees to raise indigenous moths.

Actually, thanks to backers like you, everybody gets to download and play the first 20 levels of the game for free. Without your support, we'd be restricted to a boring paid app that would limit who can learn about the important work being done. That's why your help is essential and also why your name is going to show up in our credits for everyone from around the world to see who helped make this game possible.

After completing Level 20, players can choose to play 52 new levels

And if it you really want to get a full version of the game before everyone else, back us at the Cool Caterpillar level! You'll become a beta tester and then get your free game (plus all the rewards from lower tiers). Being a beta tester for Kulea Games is pretty awesome because you'll get to weigh-in before launch and propel the game to prominence. You will also get access to other games in development, game tips and special launch events.

Back us and get rewarded! Having your name emblazoned in the Moth Matching credits is pretty amazing considering people around the world will see it. And being a beta tester is like getting the game for free! But we've also got other levels of support that reward you with more tangible items. Some of these great rewards are based on original images and music created for the game. Many of the rewards are items made from lustrous wild silk--just like the special items featured in the game--which make great gifts for others or yourself. It's like owning a little piece of the game itself!

- Two art coloring projects (EGG US ON)

An example coloring project

- Large comet moth sticker (COOL COCOON)

- Early Access Beta Tester (CURIOUS CATERPILLAR)

Play all levels before everyone else - for free!

- Indigo Wild Silk Bangle by DConstruct (TROPICAL BANGLE)

- Indigo Wild Silk Earrings (CHAMELEON CHARMS)

- Indigo Wild Silk Cuff (WILD CUFF)

- Wild Silk Clutch (NOCTURNAL CARRYALL)

- One Meter of Wild Silk (CHRYSALIS CREATOR)

- Wild Silk Hat (SUN AND SILK)

Handmade and personalized

The precious, beautiful wild silk material makes people who wear the jewelry and fashion items look amazing on the outside, but they'll make you feel even better on the inside. That's because villagers receive the standard amount for their silk and any products that they make. So you're directly supporting poverty alleviation and conservation. Moreover, you're also helping CPALI reach new audiences. The more people who play the game, the more people can learn about their important work and support their mission either directly or through the purchase of the full version of Moth Matching. The benefits of backing Moth Matching are multifold!

Sample cards with wild silk products

Kulea Games is an independent game studio cofounded by creative folks with highly complementary skills and a lot of determination. Located in California, New York and Lyon, France, we're always sure that at least one of us will be awake at a given point of time in the day. We have:

35 years collective experience in the video game industry and computer programming

27 years in arts and graphic design

13 years in the nonprofit/public service sector

Eric, Nicolas, Leslie, Doug and Alexandre can't wait to get Moth Matching released. You can read all about our individual qualifications on our website.

We're all kind of perfectionists at Kulea Games and wouldn't be comfortable releasing some "minimal" version. In fact, even our Kickstarter goal of $8,000 would not cover all of the costs associated with what we want for version 1.0 of Moth Matching. All the bells and whistles our hearts desire would be close to triple the amount we'd like to raise - particularly when you take out reward production costs, shipping, and fees.

That's no concern to us because we've already pitched in to get the game design and progression finalized, complete basic coding for a working demo and make some essential graphics. Heck, we've even got many of the essential songs and sounds done too!

We're rearing to go and with your support we'll deliver a special game that is way more than a "minimal" version. Your backing would let us:

Offer 20 free levels to everyone and the ability for players to unlock at least an additional 52 unique levels

Build an amazing progression map

Add more images! More custom graphics! More sounds and songs! More special effects and animation!

We'd also love to hire a top-notch freelance developer to write the code that takes the game from iOS to other platforms as well - especially Android. If we reach our goal early, we'll make that a stretch goal. Getting a quality version completed won't be cheap, but we love our Android mobile devices too!

"I can't find my wallet anywhere!"

Even if our lowest backing tier is going to compete too much with your daily coffee budget, there are many other things you can do to get involved and make this game a reality:

Tweet or post a Facebook message about this Kickstarter campaign

Pin an image you like from this page to Pinterest

Send a brief e-mail with the Kickstarter project link to your friends, family or coworkers who are passionate about mobile games, silk, Madagascar, moths & butterflies, and conservation issues

We know that with the help of amazing people like you, we can get the word out to more people who also want to have an interesting game that helps support a great real-life cause. Thank you so much for your support! Misaotra betsaka!

FAQs

1. Is Kulea Games a nonprofit?

- No. Kulea Games develops games for nonprofits to support their diverse missions by giving them a new way to educate the public and create a stable revenue stream for our nonprofit partners like CPALI.

2. Is your game already done?

- Ha! We wish! Our "alpha" version might look nice and polished, but that's just because our in-house artist L.A. Mayes Zuniga does amazing work and our coder Eric Colton has used them and given life to some of the levels Nicolas Dejeans laid out in the game design while Alexandre Farat has given it a soundtrack to which we can tap our feet. There's a lot of hard work ahead of us including designing and coding over 50 levels, adding animated features throughout the game, designing and coding an image gallery, drawing the large number of remaining of graphics, and the list goes on...not to mention all the time we need to debug, polish, beta test, etc. Making games isn't cheap nor easy, which is why your support is, at a minimum, validation of all our hard work to date and a vote of confidence that we can do it!

3. Are the rewards cumulative?

- Yes, from the very first level all the way up to the largest reward tier. You get a lot for every tier AND that doesn't even include the satisfaction of knowing you're going to be helping release a game that supports such a great cause.

Risks and challenges

Moth Matching has a working demo and we're highly confident that we can make a fully functional, fun game with your support. There are always challenges to developing a new game, but we're confident that we can release the full beta-tested version of the game for iPad and iPhone in Fall 2015. That's coming up!

For the rewards made of wild silk, we anticipate a pretty fast turn around time depending on demand and have chosen delivery dates that are achievable. If demand is exceptionally high, we may need to adjust the delivery dates and we will be in contact with you right away. All these items are being made by hand and we want them to be done well. Plus, they're being shipped from a location that is off the beaten track so we can't promise real-time tracking. But we know you'll be satisfied with the reward!

Support

Select this reward

Pledge $5 or more
About $5

"EGG US ON"
You show your support, we'll sew your name in the game credits as "Egg Level Backers" for the whole world to see. Plus we'll e-mail you two moth coloring art projects for kids...unless you just want to validate you can still color between the lines (or not).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $11 or more
About $11

"COOL COCOON"
Stick with us and we'll give you a large, digitally printed sticker featuring a comet moth in all its vivid beauty. It's the next best thing to seeing them in real life! Plus get everything from EGG US ON (check applicable delivery dates):
- Your name in the game credits as "Cocoon Level Backers"
- Two moth coloring projects

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $22 or more
About $22

"LEAF IN THE WIND"
Relax and rejoice with an exclusive digital album of original music from Moth Matching composed by Alexandre Farat and Malagasy musicians that inspire. Plus get everything from EGG US ON and COOL COCOON (check applicable delivery dates):
- Your name in the game credits as "Windy Leaf Backers"
- Two moth coloring projects
- Comet moth sticker

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $33 or more
About $33

"CURIOUS CATERPILLAR"
Want to play Moth Matching before everyone else AND shape the game's look and feel? This is also the chance to become a beta tester with access to all levels for FREE! Plus get everything from previous reward tiers (check applicable delivery dates):
- Your name in the game credits as "Curious Caterpillar Backer"
- Two moth coloring projects
- Comet moth sticker
- Digital music album

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $77 or more
About $77

"TANGIBLE MATCHING"
Play a phyiscal card game version of Moth Matching. You'll get high quality cards that show off Madagascar's beautiful, diverse fauna and flora. Best of all, by supporting us at this level, you'll be helping us deliver packs of this card game to five remote Malagasy villages so they can play too. After all, these villagers do not have electricity much less smart devices that can let them play. This way everyone gets to join the fun!
Plus you also get items from these previous reward tiers (check applicable delivery dates):
- Your name in the game credits as "Executive Producer"
- Two moth coloring projects
- Comet moth sticker
- Digital music album
- Beta tester status

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $101 or more
About $101

"WILD CUFF"
Elegant indigo cuff (see reward section for sample image) made with wild silk and a resin that contains a minimum of 40% pre-consumer recycled material - the perfect choice for those who love style and the environment! Plus get the following from previous reward tiers (check applicable delivery dates):
- Your name in the game credits as "Wild Cuff Backer"
- Two moth coloring projects
- Comet moth sticker
- Digital music album
- Beta tester status

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $202 or more
About $202

"SILKY SOBRIQUET"
Want to give an illustration in our game a nickname? We've got a fascinating assortment of fauna and flora from which you can choose. Name a card's principal image that will be included in the image gallery description. Plus get items from previous reward tiers (check applicable delivery dates):
- Choice of two names and your marriage date in the game credits as a "Silky Sobriquet Backer"
- Two moth coloring projects
- Comet moth sticker
- Digital music album
- Beta tester status
- Wild silk paper
- Both wild silk jewelry rewards

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $202 or more
About $202

"SPUN SILK SOBRIQUET"
Want to give an illustration in our game a nickname? We've got a fascinating assortment of fauna (e.g., moth, lemur, chameleon, spider) and flora from which you can choose. Name a card's principal image that will be included in the image gallery description. First come, first choose so back quickly! Plus get items from previous reward tiers (check applicable delivery dates):
- Two moth coloring projects
- Comet moth sticker
- Digital music album
- Beta tester status
- Wild silk paper
- Both wild silk jewelry rewards

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $303 or more
About $303

"RING TALES"
Tying the knot will be that much more special if you can have a one-of-a-kind ring pillow made of lustrous wild silk. Hand-sewn with love by one of our team's greatest supporters who has experience and a flare for sewing, this pillow will be a symbol of a couple's respect for the environment, compassion for others and the wild side of themselves that will never be domesticated! Plus get items from previous reward tiers (check applicable delivery dates):
- Choice of two names and your marriage date in the game credits as "Ring Tales Backers"
- Two moth coloring projects
- Comet moth sticker
- Digital music album
- Beta tester status
- Wild silk paper
- Both wild silk jewelry rewards
- Name a card illustration

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $404 or more
About $404

"NOCTURNAL CARRYALL"
Going out on the town with a wild silk clutch is a fantastic statement of fashion and environmental consciousness. Handmade in the same communities producing the wild silk, you're all but assured that nobody will be sporting the same clutch. Plus get items from previous reward tiers (check applicable delivery dates):
- Your name in the game credits as "Nocturnal Carryall Backer"
- Two moth coloring projects
- Comet moth sticker
- Digital music album
- Beta tester status
- Wild silk paper
- Both wild silk jewelry rewards
- Name a card image

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $808 or more
About $808

"CHRYSALIS CREATOR"
What can't you make given a square meter of wild silk? Your next fashion, art or craft project will be that much more impressive. We'll even showcase your creation on our website and across our social media sites when it is complete. Plus get items from previous reward tiers (check applicable delivery dates):
- Your name in the game credits as "Chrysalis Creator Backer"
- Two moth coloring projects
- Comet moth sticker
- Digital music album
- Beta tester status
- Wild silk paper
- Both wild silk jewelry rewards
- Name a card illustration
- Wild silk clutch

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $808 or more
About $808

"SUN AND SILK"
Back us at this level and get a custom-sized, hand made silk hat that is perfect for all occasions. Plus get items from previous reward tiers (check applicable delivery dates):
- Your name in the game credits as "Sun and Silk Backer"
- Two moth coloring projects
- Comet moth sticker
- Digital music album
- Beta tester status
- Wild silk paper
- Both wild silk jewelry rewards
- Name a card illustration
- Wild silk clutch

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,001 or more
About $1,001

"MAJESTIC MOTH"
You'll be an executive producer credit for Moth Matching. Includes a visit to CPALI's site and custom guide for local park visit (includes local food/lodging/guide for up to three days - but does not air transport to Madagascar or regional transport costs). Also receive a personal Skype lecture about wild silk, moths and conservation in Madagascar from the president of CPALI. Plus get items from previous reward tiers (check applicable delivery dates):
- Your name in the game credits as "Executive Producer"
- Two moth coloring projects
- Comet moth sticker
- Digital music album
- Beta tester status
- Wild silk paper
- Both wild silk jewelry rewards
- Name a card illustration
- Wild silk clutch